Press Releases

Rose Statement on Vote Condemning Bigotry

Congressman: ‘For those who have magically found their strength to tackle bigotry in our country, I would remind them it doesn’t take courage to condemn hate in another party, but it takes character to stand up to your own’

Congressman Max Rose issued the following statement on his vote in support of a resolution in the House of Representatives condemning anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim, and all forms of hateful rhetoric and bigotry as forms of racism and prejudice antithetical to the values and aspirations of the American people:

“Every single American has the right to criticize the actions of a foreign government, Israel or otherwise. But, as the first Jewish Congressman from Staten Island, I reject the insinuation that because I, and colleagues like me, support Israel’s right to exist, I am somehow disloyal to the country that I’ve served in uniform and in Congress. Anti-Semitism isn’t a game. Over and over again, people have been hurt or murdered simply because they were Jewish in the past year alone. We need to confront the fact that we have members of both parties who have invoked anti-Semitic tropes and imagery—as well as disgusting displays of Islamophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of hateful rhetoric. For those who have magically found their strength to tackle bigotry in our country, I would remind them it doesn’t take courage to condemn hate in another party, but it takes character to stand up to your own. This resolution shouldn’t even be necessary, but in times like this we must send a signal that the United States Congress does not tolerate hate in any form.”

With instances of anti-Semitism on the rise globally, Rose helped lead an effort earlier this year to coordinate U.S. strategy against anti-Semitism overseas.